How To Ask What Is That? In Spanish Using Qué

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How to ask What is that? in Spanish using quéWritten by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BALast updated: 2025-10-3017 questionsTake the fastest path to fluent SpanishJoin now for free!

What is...? in Spanish

If we don't know what something is and want to ask for its definition, we use the simple question:

¿Qué es? (What is it?)

¿Qué es un/una...?  (What is a...)

¿Qué es el/la...? (What is the...)

or

¿Qué es eso? (What is that?)

For example, if someone says: "Me gusta mucho La Sagrada Familia de Barcelona." (I really like "La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona") and you've never heard of "La Sagrada Familia", you can ask:

 ¿Qué es "La Sagrada Familia"?What is "La Sagrada Familia"?

As an answer to your question you will have a reply describing what that specific thing is, for example:

"La Sagrada Familia es un monumento famoso de Barcelona."

(La Sagrada Familia is a famous monument in Barcelona.")

Other examples:

 "Necesito un bolígrafo." (I need a pen.)

¿Qué es "un bolígrafo"?What is "un bolígrafo"?

"Quiero un café con leche." (I want a white coffee. Lit: a coffee with milk.)

¿Qué es "un café con leche"?What is "un café con leche"?

 "Hay una iglesia pequeña allí." (There is a small church there.)

¿Qué es "una iglesia"?What is "una iglesia"?

¿"Una iglesia"? ¿Qué es eso?¿"Una iglesia"? What is that?

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Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

• Adjetivo interrogativo y exclamativo

Examples and resources

¿Qué es "un café con leche"?What is "un café con leche"?¿Qué es "una iglesia"?What is "una iglesia"?¿"Una iglesia"? ¿Qué es eso?¿"Una iglesia"? What is that?¿Qué es "un bolígrafo"?What is "un bolígrafo"?¿Qué es "La Sagrada Familia"?What is "La Sagrada Familia"? Thinking...